Connector of connecting light sensor and substrate and method of fabricating light sensor

ABSTRACT

A connector of connecting a light sensor and a substrate is utilized for rotating the light sensor so that the light-receiving direction of the light sensor is parallel with the substrate. When the connector is utilized in an optical touch system, the light sensor can be disposed on the substrate of the optical touch system by means of general manufacturing facilities of flat display panels. Meanwhile, the light-receiving direction of the light sensor is parallel with the substrate of the optical touch system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a divisional application of and claimspriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/717,927, filed on Mar.4, 2010, and entitled “Connector of connecting light sensor andsubstrate and method of fabricating light sensor”. Patent applicationSer. No. 12/717,927 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/180,890, filed on May 25, 2009. The entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a connector, and more particularly,to a connector of connecting a light sensor.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The optical touch system comprises a display panel, a transparentsubstrate, a light sensor, and a location-calculating circuit. Ingeneral, the transparent substrate is a glass substrate. Moreparticularly, the transparent substrate is an ITO (Tin-doped IndiumOxide) glass. The display panel displays images through the transparentsubstrate. The light sensor is a chip module disposed on the transparentsubstrate, and the light-receiving direction of the light sensor has tobe parallel to the substrate for detecting if an indicating object (forexample, a finger or a stylus) is on the transparent substrate, andaccordingly generating a light-sensing signal. The light-sensing signalincludes information of a sensed image with a range covering theindicating object. The information of the light sensing signal may bethe distance and the angle between the indicating object and the lightsensor. In addition, the light sensor includes a transmission port fortransmitting the light-sensing signal to the location-calculatingcircuit. In this way, the location-calculating circuit calculates thelocation of the indicating object on the display panel according to thelight-sensing signal.

In the prior art, when a chip module is disposed on a glass substrate,the chip module is disposed on a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) byTape Carrier Package (TCP) or Chip on Film (COF) at first, and then theFPC is coupled to the glass substrate, for example, by pressurewielding. However, when the light sensor is disposed on the substrate bymeans of the above-mentioned method, the light-receiving direction ofthe light sensor is limited. More particularly, when the light sensor ispackaged on the FCB by the above-mentioned method, the light-receivingdirection of the FCB is vertical to the substrate, as shown in FIG. 1.Thus, when the FCB is coupled to the substrate, the light-receivingdirection of the light sensor is vertical to the substrate. In otherwords, when the light sensor is disposed on the glass substrate by theconventional package methods (TCP or COF), the light-receiving directionof the light sensor is vertical to the glass substrate, making the lightsensor not able to detect if an indicating object contacts the displaypanel. In the prior art, the FCB may be bended for rotating thelight-receiving direction of the light sensor, but such process wastestime and the yield rate of the process is not easily controlled,increasing the cost of the optical touch system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a connector of connecting a light sensorand a substrate. The connector is utilized for rotating the light sensorso that a light-receiving direction of the light sensor is parallel tothe substrate. The substrate is a glass. The light sensor is utilizedfor receiving light so as to generate a light-sensing signal. The lightsensor has a transmission port for transmitting the light-sensingsignal. The light sensor applied in an optical touch system. The opticaltouch system has a display panel and a location-calculating circuit. Thedisplay panel displays images through the substrate. Thelocation-calculating circuit calculates a location of an indicatingobject on the display panel according to the light-sensing signal. Theconnector comprises a body and a connecting port. The body is utilizedfor containing the light sensor, and rotating the light sensor so as tochange the light-receiving direction of the light sensor to be parallelto the substrate. The connecting port is contained in the body. Theconnecting port is coupled to the transmission port of the light sensorfor the light sensor being coupled to the substrate through thetransmission port and the connecting port.

The present invention further provides an optical touch system. Theoptical touch system comprises a substrate, a display panel, alight-sensing module, and a location-calculating circuit. The substrateis a glass. The display panel is utilized for displaying images throughthe substrate. The light-sensing module is utilized for receiving lightso as to detect an indicating object, and accordingly generate alight-sensing signal. The light-sensing module comprises a light sensor,and a connector. The light sensor is utilized for receiving light so asto generate the light-sensing signal. The light sensor comprises atransmission port for transmitting the light-sensing signal. Theconnector comprises a body, a connecting port, and a flexible printedcircuit board. The body is utilized for containing the light sensor, androtating the light sensor so as to change a light-receiving direction ofthe light sensor to be parallel to the substrate. The connecting port iscontained in the body and is coupled to the transmission port of thelight sensor. The flexible printed circuit board has a flexible-boardconnecting port for coupling the connecting port of the connector to thesubstrate. The location-calculating circuit is utilized for calculatinga location of the indicating object on the display panel according tothe light-sensing signal.

The present invention further provides a method of fabricating a lightsensor. The light sensor has a sensing unit and a lens. The sensing unitis utilized for receiving light so as to generate a light-sensingsignal. The sensing unit has a transmission end for transmitting thelight-sensing signal. The lens is utilized for focusing light on thesensing unit. The light sensor is applied in an optical touch system.The optical touch system has a substrate, a display panel, and alocation-calculating circuit. The substrate is a glass. The displaypanel displays image through the substrate. The location-calculatingcircuit calculates a location of an indicating object on the displaypanel according to the light-sensing signal. The light sensor iscontained in a connector. The connector rotates the light sensor so asto change a light-receiving direction of the light sensor to be parallelto the substrate, and the connector prevents the light sensor from hightemperature fabrication. The method comprises filling an underfillbetween the sensing unit and a carrying component for fixing the sensingunit to the carrying component, attaching the lens on the sensing unit,and filling a fixing component around the sensing unit and the lens forpackaging the sensing unit and the lens.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating that the light-receiving direction ofthe light senor is vertical to the glass substrate.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connector according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are diagram illustrating the connecting port of theconnector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connector according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the light-sensingmodule of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of thelight-sensing module of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an optical touch system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams illustrating a method of fabricating alight sensor of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a connector of connecting the lightsensor and the substrate. The connector provided by the presentinvention rotates the light sensor so as to change the light-receivingdirection of the light sensor to be parallel to the substrate. In thisway, when the light sensor is disposed on the substrate by means of theconnector of the present invention, the light-receiving direction of thelight sensor is parallel to the substrate.

Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connector 200according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, theconnector 200 is disposed on a substrate 202. The substrate 202 is atransparent substrate, e.g. a glass substrate or an ITO glass. Theconnector 200 comprises a body 210, a connecting port 220, a lid 230,and a light-receiving window 240. The body 210 has space large enoughfor containing alight sensor 201, and rotates the light sensor 201 so asto change the light-receiving direction to be parallel to the substrate202. The connecting port 220 is contained in the body 210, and iscoupled to the transmission port of the light sensor 201 so that thelight sensor 201 is coupled to the substrate 202 through thetransmission port of the light sensor 201 and the connecting port 220.The connecting port 220 may be realized by a plurality of L-shape goldenfingers 221, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Each golden finger 221comprises sections L₁ and L₂. The section L₁ is coupled to thetransmission port of the light sensor 201, and is vertical to thesubstrate 202. The section L₂ is coupled to the substrate 202, and isparallel to the substrate 202. The lid 230 is closed after the lightsensor 201 is placed into the body 210 for preventing the light sensor201 being detached from the connector 200 and from being directlypressed. The light-receiving window 240 is utilized for providing thelight sensor 201 receiving light. Therefore, according to thedescription above-mentioned, as long as the connector 200 of the presentinvention is coupled to the substrate 202 and the light sensor 201 isplaced into the body 210 of the connector 200, the light-receivingdirection of the light sensor 201 is changed to be parallel to thesubstrate and the light sensor 201 can transmit the light-sensing signalS_(LS) through the transmission port of the light sensor 201 and theconnecting port 220 of the connector 200.

Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connector 500according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The operationprinciples and the structures of the connector 500, the light sensor501, and the substrate 502 are respectively similar to those of theconnector 200, the light sensor 201, and the substrate 202. Comparedwith the connector 200, the connector 500 further comprises a flexibleprinted circuit board (FPC) 550. The FPC 550 has a flexible-boardconnecting port 551. The flexible-board connecting port 551 of the FPC550 is coupled between the connecting port 520 of the connector 500 andthe substrate 502. Since, in the general fabrication of the flat displaypanel, the driving circuit of the display panel of is coupled to thesubstrate through an FPC, the fabrication of coupling the connector 500to the substrate 502 through the FPC 550 only requires generalfabrication facilities of the flat display panel.

Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a firstembodiment of the light-sensing module of the present invention. Thelight-sensing module 600 comprises a light sensor 610 and a connector620. The light sensor 610 is contained in the connector 620. Theoperation principles and the structures of the light sensor 610 and theconnector 620 are similar to those of the light sensor 201 and theconnector 200, and thus will not be repeated again for brevity.

When the light-sensing module 600 is coupled to the substrate 601, thelight-receiving direction of the light-sensing module 600 is parallel tothe substrate 601. Hence, when the light-sensing module 600 is disposedon a substrate of an optical touch system, the light-sensing module 600can detect the indicating object on the substrate, and accordinglygenerate a light-sensing signal S_(LS).

Please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a secondembodiment of the light-sensing module of the present invention. Thelight-sensing module 700 comprises a light sensor 710 and a connector720. The light sensor 710 is contained in the connector 720. Theoperation principles and the structures of the light sensor 710 and theconnector 720 are similar to those of the light sensor 501 and theconnector 500, and thus will not be repeated again for brevity.Similarly, when the light-sensing module 700 is coupled to the substrate701, the light-receiving direction of the light-sensing module 700 isparallel to the substrate 701. As a result, when the light-sensingmodule 700 is disposed on a substrate of an optical touch system, thelight-sensing module 700 can detect the indicating object on thesubstrate, and accordingly generate a light-sensing signal S_(LS).

Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an opticaltouch system 800 of the present invention. The optical touch system 800comprises a substrate 810, a display panel 820, a light-sensing module830, and a location-calculating circuit 840. Generally, the substrate810 is a transparent substrate, e.g. a glass substrate or an ITO glass.The display panel 820 displays images through the substrate 810. Thelight-sensing module 830 may be realized by the light-sensing modules600 or 700. The light-sensing module 830 is disposed on the substrate810, and the light-receiving direction of the light-sensing module 830is parallel to the substrate 810. The light-sensing module 830 receiveslight for detecting the indicating object O₁ such as a finger on thesubstrate 810, and accordingly generate a light-sensing signal S_(LS).In this way, the location-calculating circuit 840 calculates thelocation of the indicating object on the display panel 820 according tothe light-sensing signal S_(LS) so as to realize the touch-controlledfunction.

In addition, it is noticeable that in the prior art, the light sensor isdirectly disposed on the FPC by TCP or COP, so the light sensor isprocessed by high temperature fabrication, e.g. reflow. Since the lensof the light sensor is not heat-resistant, the lens has to be assembledto the light sensor after the high temperature fabrication, causing anadditional cost. However, by means of the connector of the presentinvention, the light sensor is prevented from the high temperaturefabrication. Consequently, during the fabrication of the light sensor,the lens and the other components of the light sensor are packaged atthe same time to forma chip module, reducing the cost of the lightsensor. The above-mentioned method of fabricating the light sensoraccording to the present invention is further illustrated as below.

Please refer to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagramsillustrating a method of fabricating a light sensor 900 of the presentinvention. The light sensor 900 comprises a sensing unit 910, a lens920, and a light-blocking component 930. The sensing unit 910 isutilized for receiving light so as to generate a light-sensing signalS_(LS). The sensing unit 910 has a transmission end as the transmissionport of the light sensor 900. The sensing unit 910 is generally a chipof Chip Scale Package (CSP). The lens 920 is utilized for focusing thelight on the sensing unit 910. The light-blocking component 930 isutilized for blocking the light not vertically entering the light sensor900, so that the light-receiving direction of the light sensor 900 isvertical to the surface of the lens 920 and the sensing unit 910. Thatis, the sensing unit 910 is almost not disturbed by the light of theother direction. In addition, when the sensing unit 910 generates thelight-sensing signal S_(LS) mainly according to the infra-red light, thelight-blocking component 930 can block the infra-red light.

In FIG. 9, the method of fabricating the light sensor 900 comprises: (1)coupling the transmission end of the sensing unit 910 to a carryingcomponent 901 by means of surface mount technology (SMT), (2) filling anunderfill between the sensing unit 910 and the carrying component 901for fixing the sensing unit 910 to the carrying component 901, (3)attaching the lens 920 on the sensing unit 910, (4) filling a fixingcomponent 902 around the sensing unit 910 and the lens 920 for packagingthe sensing unit 910 and the lens 920, and (5) disposing alight-blocking component 930 around the lens 920 for blocking the lightnot vertically emitting into the surface of the light sensor 900.

In FIG. 10, the method of fabricating the light sensor 900 comprises:(1) coupling the transmission end of the sensing unit 910 to a carryingcomponent 901 by means of SMT, (2) attaching the lens 920 on the sensingunit 910, (3) using metal wire to couple the transmission end of thesensing unit 910 to the carrying component 901, (4) filling a fixingcomponent 902 around the sensing unit 910 and the lens 920 for packagingthe sensing unit 910 and the lens 920, and (5) disposing alight-blocking component 930 around the lens 920 for blocking the lightnot vertically emitting into the surface of the light sensor 900.

In conclusion, the connector provided by the present invention isutilized for connecting a light sensor and a substrate, and rotating thelight sensor so as to change the light-receiving direction of the lightsensor to be parallel to the substrate. In this way, the light sensorcan be disposed through the connector of the present invention, and keepthe light-receiving direction of the light sensor parallel to thesubstrate at the same time. By means of the connector of the presentinvention, the present invention further provides a light-sensingmodule. When the light-sensing module of the present invention iscoupled to a substrate, the light-receiving direction of thelight-sensing module of the present invention is parallel to thesubstrate. The present invention further provides an optical touchsystem. In the optical touch system, the light-sensing module isparallel to the substrate. In addition, the present invention furtherprovides a method of fabricating a light sensor by means of theconnector of the present invention. Because the connector of the presentinvention can prevent the light sensor from high temperaturefabrication, the method of the present invention packages the lens andthe sensing unit of the sensor to form a chip module at the same time,reducing the cost of the light sensor.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of fabricating a light sensor, the lightsensor having a sensing unit and a lens, the sensing unit utilized forreceiving light so as to generate a light-sensing signal, the sensingunit having a transmission end for transmitting the light-sensingsignal, the lens utilized for focusing light on the sensing unit, thelight sensor applied in an optical touch system, the optical touchsystem having a substrate, a display panel, and a location-calculatingcircuit, the substrate being a glass, the display panel displaying imagethrough the substrate, the location-calculating circuit calculating alocation of an indicating object on the display panel according to thelight-sensing signal, the light sensor being contained in a connector,the connector rotating the light sensor so as to change alight-receiving direction of the light sensor to be parallel to thesubstrate, and the connector preventing the light sensor from hightemperature fabrication, the method comprising: filling an underfillbetween the sensing unit and a carrying component for fixing the sensingunit to the carrying component; attaching the lens on the sensing unit;and filling a fixing component around the sensing unit and the lens forpackaging the sensing unit and the lens.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: disposing a light-blocking component around the lensfor blocking light not vertically emitting into a surface of the lightsensor.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: coupling thetransmission end to the carrying component by means of surface mounttechnology.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: using metalwire to couple the transmission end to the carrying component.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the substrate is an ITO glass.